Sir Nathaniel Barnaby

Sir Nathaniel Barnaby, C.B., was born at Chatham in 1829. He had a distinguished career in naval architecture, ultimately serving as Director of Naval Construction for the British Royal Navy. Alongside his public service, Barnaby devoted many years to Christian education and served as superintendent of the Baptist Sunday School at Lee, Kent. He wrote spirited, popular hymns for his students, including "To Jesus, our Captain, to Jesus, our King" and "The soldier keeps his wakeful watch," both of which were published in W. R. Stevenson's School Hymnal (1881).